Aiello signs for Opel

Former DTM champion Laurent Aiello is another well known name to be joining
the ranks of Opel drivers in 2004, after signing a deal with the
manufacturer. Aiello took the title in 2002 with Abt-Audi but was unhappy
with the performance of the car...

Former DTM champion Laurent Aiello is another well known name to be joining
the ranks of Opel drivers in 2004, after signing a deal with the
manufacturer. Aiello took the title in 2002 with Abt-Audi but was unhappy
with the performance of the car in 2003. The Frenchman finished sixth
overall in the standings as Bernd Schneider took his fourth DTM
championship.

Laurent Aiello.

Photo by Nikki Reynolds.

Only a week ago Opel announced it had signed ex-Formula One driver
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and before him Mercedes DTM star Marcel F?ssler
decided to move to Opel for 2004. Along with Manuel Reuter and Peter
Dumbreck, Opel's line up is looking pretty impressive.

Aiello will drive one of the new Vectra GTS models that Opel is introducing:
"I have been in touch with Opel for two years already and I am happy that we
have now concluded a deal," he said. "There is great motivation at Opel and
I really like to contribute to that. Moreover, I am delighted that I can
stay in the DTM, because the series really means a lot to me."

Opel's motorsport manager Volker Strycek commented: "With Laurent Aiello, we
have yet another top driver joining our ranks. He is a known quantity in
touring car racing and certainly another valuable addition for our team."

Opel also announced that G?nther Steiner, formerly technical director of the
Jaguar F1 team, has been appointed as technical manager of the
OPC-DTM Center in Bobingen, Bavaria.

"The DTM is a great series that becomes more and more important, also at an
international level," said Steiner. "The strict regulations are a guarantee
for equal chances and a high level at reasonable costs. For a technician,
the challenge is to find an area to work within these regulations. For me,
that is an interesting task."